Legislative Update- April 8, 2022

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Dear Neighbors,

It’s been a busy week at the Capitol, as the Legislature worked to meet our third major deadline to advance fiscal bills out of committee. Priorities are taking shape in the form of bills, and in the House, we’re dedicating efforts to lower costs and get Minnesotans the support they need after an incredibly challenging two years. After today, we are headed into a short break in the legislative action. We will be back in session on Tuesday, April 19th at 11:00 a.m.

Here’s an update from the Capitol:

Aiding Consumers and Strengthening Minnesota’s Salvage Title Statutes

On Monday, the Minnesota House advanced my legislation on a broad bipartisan vote of 134-0 to aid consumers and strengthen Minnesota’s salvage title statutes, making the system work better for all.

Under my bill, auto dealers would be required to inform potential buyers of known past damage. It also contains modifications to salvage title and disclosure requirements agreed to by stakeholders as a result of the work of the Salvage Title Task Force to ensure proper transparency and disclosure when previously damaged vehicles are bought and sold. I was proud to serve on the Salvage Title Task Force this Fall.

Minnesotans deserve fair and honest consumer protections, and I’m glad we are strengthening the statute to make this a reality for all. You can watch the Floor debate here.

Investing in our Students and Schools

Also on Monday, my colleagues and I announced our plan to invest a portion of the state’s budget surplus to invest in our students after an unprecedented pandemic-related disruption to education. Our House Education bill is a packaged that invests $3 billion over the next three years to make sure our students and schools have what they need to meet students where they are. This is in stark comparison to the Senate bill that invests only a disappointing $30 million.

Students and parents are asking for more state support, so kids have a chance to catch up emotionally and academically. In our bill, we dedicate $475 million in mental health supports across the state- including making it possible to hire over 1,000 school counselors, nurses, psychologists, and chemical dependency counselors. We also propose to reduce the amount school districts pay to make up for English Language Learning and Special Education funding shortfalls.

To help close the opportunity gap, we’re proposing the creation of a statewide voluntary prekindergarten program for children who are least likely to have access to early learning. Many families struggle to pay for early care and learning, including those who aren’t eligible for child care assistance or early learning scholarships. We’re proposing a Great Start Tax Credit to provide families with up to $3,000 for each child under five years of age, with a cap of $7,500. This provision is in our Tax bill and will help middle-income families afford early care and learning, so parents can work, preventing workforce shortages, and helping businesses and communities thrive. 

It has been an honor to serve on both the House Education Finance Committee as well as the House Tax Committee to help move these bills forward.

Taxes 

We also rolled out our taxes bill this week, which has been coined a “Tax bill with a cause” – using targeted and significant tax cuts to make a real difference in the lives of families, workers and senior citizens by lowering childcare costs, making housing more affordable, and cutting property taxes. We have a variety of measures to make life easier for young families, help ensure senior citizens can live independently and with high quality care, help workers and businesses recover and rebuild after the pandemic, and enact the largest property tax cut in 20 years. You can read more details in the nonpartisan House Public Information office’s Session Daily story.

Lowering Costs for Minnesotans 

On Tuesday this week, I participated in a press conference with Speaker Hortman, House Taxes Chair Marquart, Rep. Jamie Long, Rep. Ester Agbaje, and Rep. Michael Howard to announce our package of legislation to lower costs for Minnesotans. We’ve offered legislation to cap the cost of insulin and inhalers, ensure nobody who makes under $75,000 will be taxed on social security income, and expands eligibility for renter tax refunds and provides larger tax credits for homeowners. You can view this press conference here. 

Floor Action

Yesterday, the Minnesota House voted to invest $1 million in the state’s response to H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Minnesota. The funding will be used for testing supplies and other emergency response activities, including disease surveillance.

HPAI was first detected in Minnesota on March 25 and since has been found in flocks in 12 counties. More than 1 million birds have been impacted so far. Last week, Governor Walz announced the activation of a U.S. Department of Agriculture emergency response team in Minnesota to support the state’s disease control and containment efforts. 

HPAI poses little or no risk to humans, and turkey available for purchase to consumers is safe to eat. Minnesota is the top turkey producer in the country, with 660 turkey farms that raise about 40 million birds annually. To prevent the spread among backyard or other noncommercial flocks, the University of Minnesota Extension encourages bird owners to separate their flocks from disease sources, separate new or returning birds from existing flocks for 30 days, clean poultry areas and equipment, and avoid sharing equipment among neighbors. You can read more about the bill here.

Hopkins News

The City of Hopkins is making a big announcement on Tuesday, April 12 at noon! Be amongst the first to know about the big reveal and celebrate at Clock Tower Plaza.

St. Louis Park News

Nominations are due today for the St. Louis Park Caring Youth Recognition. You can submit your nomination here.

Connected to Community

I was grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with the Hopkins Educator Association, the Minnesota School Psychologists Association, and Leading Age Minnesota this week.

Carl Holmquist, from The Glenn in Hopkins on Leading Age Day

Hopkins Education Association

Keep in Touch

Next week, the Minnesota Legislature will recess to observe Easter and Passover. I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday!

On April 19, we’ll start to see more floor sessions and votes on our supplemental budget bills.

Please keep in touch and contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn or 651-296-9889.

Have a great weekend!

Cheryl Youakim
State Representative